Said eckland as



May 26, 1931. w. H. YOUNG ET AL INKING DEVICE Filed Jan. 18, 1926 Q rnd- Y Patented May 26, 1931 UNiTED'" srATEs- PATENT ori-ICE WALTER H. YOUNG AND EMIL 0. ECKLAND,YOF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; SAID ECKLAND AS- SIGNOR T0 SAID YOUNG lINKINcr DEVICE Application filed January 18, 1926. Serial No. 82,005.

the printing Huid Without interfering with the proper feeding inc-vement of the ribbon.

' It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this character which will stop the supply of the fluid to the ribbon during periods at which the ribbon is not in use, thereby avoiding upon re-use of the machine after a longer period of rest, an over-saturation of a portion of the ribbon.

It is, furthermore, an object of the invention to provide a device of this character in which only a very small amount of ink is supplied' to the ribbon in each operative movement of the device, assuring thereby the production of neat impressions from the type through the ribbon.

It is', furthermore, an object of the invention to provide a device of this character in which the inking device through engagement with the ribbon will not injure the same,so that the ribbon can be used an indetermined length of time and still give good impressions.

It is, furthermore7 an object of the invention to rovide a device of this character in which tiie source of the fluid or ink-well is arranged to prevent discharge or spilling of the Huid, no matter in which direction the entire machine is being tilted for repair, permitting also the attachment of the device to those typewriting machines, for instance, which are turned from horizontal position to vertical position when the desk on which they are mounted is being closed.

It is another object of the invention to eifect the delivery of very small quantities of the inking iuid from an ink supply indirectly to a distributor device which applies t-he printing fiuid to the ribbon or the like.

It is an additional object -of the invention to construct the ink-well or container in such manner that it can readily be filled with printing fluid without endangering the attendant and to render the device adjustable for maintaining the ribbon in proper tension while being used.

With these and numerous other objects in View which will become apparent from a perusal of the following specification, embodiments of theinvention are described in said specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

-In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a typewriting machine with the ribbon inking device attached thereto;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through one ink well, on a larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2 through the delivering and distributing mechainsm;

Fig. 5 is an end attachment, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through a modified attachment. i y

The devicev as illustrated in Fig. 1 is shown attached to the frame 1 of a typewriter altho it is obvious that it lends itself to numerous other mechanisms in which the printing operation is effected through a ribbon. The frame parts 1 are suitably disposed with respect to a platen 2 and ribbon spools 3, the ribbon R being guided over rollers 4 which form a part of the machine, through a clip 5 which defines the point of impact of the head 6 of the type lever 7 in each printing stroke.

The inking device pro er, indicated as a whole at 10, is prefera ly mounted on a bracket comprising angularly related portions 12 and 13. The vertical portion 12 of the bracket is here shown adj ustably secured toa vertical surface of the frame 1, by means of the screw 14 entering the frame and eX- tending through a marginal slot in the portion 12.

vThe device comprises a casing 15 which is pivotally secured to the horizontal part 13 of the bracket by means of a pivot pin 16. The casing has an apertured extension 17 for this purpose through which the pivot pin 16 projects. In order to maintain the casing in proper relation to the ink ribbon R While the latter is being fed from either one of the spools 3 to the other, the pivot in 16 is surrounded by a spring 18, one en of which isV secured to the apertured extension 17 while the other end of the spring may be anchored in any or@ of a plurality of notches 19 in the bracket., Owin to this arrangement, the force at which the entire device is yieldingly maintained in operative relation to the ribbon may be varied,'as required. f

The horizontal art 13 of the bracket is furthermore provi ed with a cam edge 20 eccentric relatively to the axis of the pivot pin and adapted to be engaged by Ya tooth-like projection 21 of the casing 15 when the inking device is moved about the pin 16 to non-op-` erative position, the portion adjacent the cam edge 20 being slotted so that in the turning movement of the casing 15 about the pin 16 the edge of the projection 21, frietionally engaging the cam edge 20 will force the parts adjacent the slot against each other so as to retard or brake the movement of the casing and hold it in inoperative position. After the casing has been moved to this nonoperative position the slot will again spread, thereby preventing the spring 18 from returning the casing to its operative position. The shape of the cam edgethereby favors the retention of the device in either operative or inoperative position, but not in an intermediate position.

While in the present instance two of the inking devices are illustrated, one adjacent each of the ribbon spools, it is obvious that either one of these` inking devices may be retained in inoperative position .if desired. It is advisable, however, to apply both inking devices simultaneously so that the entire length of the ribbon will be inked and upon a reversal of the ribbon feed the ribbon ends are saturated uniformly immediately upon the change of direction of feed'. If it is desired to return a casing from inoperative to operative position it is only necessary to force the tooth 21 past the yielding cam edge 20, whereby it is again held in operative position. It is also obvious that both of the casings maybe locked yieldingly in operative position at the same time.

The casing 15 for the inking device shown consists of a sectional container or ink-well, both sections being provided with circumferential flanges or walls adapted to register with each other, when the screws 23 for securing the cover in place are screwed home into tapped bosses 24 cast onto the opposite or rear surface of the other container section 22. The casing illustrated shows a rear surface 25 with slanting portions and a central portion extending parallel to the main surface of the front or cover 26. The cover 26, as shown in the present case, forms the closure or front wall of the container which is directed towards the ribbon R. The rear wall 25 is provided with a central boss 27 to receive a shoulder screw 28, having a turned surface 29, which serves as a bearing for a delivery wheel 31, which is freely rotatable thereon. As may be seen from Figs. 3 and 4, the lower part of the delivery wheel or conveyor 31 travels through the fluid within the casing or inkwell. An antiffriction washer 32 lsurrounds the screw 29 at the end of the delivery wheel opposite the head end and that part of the delivery wheel 31 which is opposite the immersed part of the same is yieldin ly pressed forward in a direction towards t e head of the screw 29 by means of a blade spring 33 clamped between the boss 27 and the washer 32.

The wheel 31 serves for conveying the li uid from the bottom 34 of the well upward, and this is effected through the provision of shallow elongated recesses 35 in the front surface of the wheel. The recesses are circumferentially uniformly spaced and extend radially and are adapted upon rotation of the wheel to carry, each, a minute quantity of the fluid. The fluid is retained within the shallow and narrow recesses through surface tension,- and this arrangement has been proven to be more advantageous than the provision of openings or holes extending through the wheel, since in the improved device the quantity of liquid carried and retained in each of the recesses 35 is uniform.

For the purpose of distributing the ink from the recesses 35 to the ink ribbon, and at the same time for imparting a rotary movement to the delivery wheel 31, a rotary distributor 36 is shown which in the present instance is supported by the cover section 26, so as to be removable and attachable with the same. A shoulder screw 37 extends through the top central part of the cover, and a turned portion on said screw serves as a journal for the hub 38 of the distributor wheel. The top of the hub 38 engages a shoulder formed at the enlarged part of the screw 37, and downward displacement of the hub on the screw is prevented by a `spring ring 39 snapped into a circumferential groove in the end or reduced shank of said screw below the anti-friction washer 40, which surrounds said shank and on which the hub rotates.

The distributor wheel 36, has a toothed circumference and the dise or body of the wheel slants in a direction towards the hub, a feature which is of great advantage, since in this manner all superfluous ink will automatically run towards the center of the hub before hardening, from where it will drip back into the well 34.

In prior inking devices the ink applying element permitted a collection of inking Huid thereon, particularly when the machine was out of operation overnight. or when the device was left standing for much shorter time. The fluid was thereby permitted to soak into the ribbon which then produced imprints which Awere far from uniform. Owing to the conical surface of the distributor in the present invention, the Huid, if not applied tothe ribbon, immediately runs off towards the center of the distributor when the latter is standing, and the ribbon` therefore, is saturated uniformly by the distributor 36 regardless of the time intervals of use or rest of the machine.

This condition of uniformly returning the nonused fluid to the well is, furthermore, enhanced by the provision and shape of a-perA tures 41 and 42 in the distributor 36 and in the delivery wheel 31 respectively. These apertures are of such contour that the fluid has a tendency to spread about and drop instead of forming a film ,across said apertures,-a condition which otherwise would occur owing to the surface tension on fiuids when the latter spreads over relatively small openings. In order to avoid this catching of the fiuid on the distributor or conveyor, the apertures have an outline, the outer part of which is not equidistant from the arc of the pitch circle of the corresponding Wheel. This arrangement of a contour line, eccentric relatively to the wheel itself, causes the inking fiuid to spread about these apertures owing to the varying distance Vwhich the fiuid has to travel from diHerent points of the circumference of the wheel to the next point at the contour line of the respective opening.

The teeth of the distributor element 36 enter into the recesses 35 of the delivery wheel 31` and thereby not only effect the transfer of the fiuid to the distributor, but also effect the drive of the delivery Wheel, and this condition is maintained owing to the provision of the spring 33.

A deck or downwardly slanting projecting tongue 43 extends from the front Wall of tbe Well cover 26, party across the same, to form a drain when the device is in normal position and baiiie. to prevent discharge of the ink, when the entire device is tilted.

A small filling opening 44 is provided in the cover through which the fiuid may be introduced.

'Ihc embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6 is primarily intended for a typewriting niachine in which the ribbon spools (not shown) are arranged vertically and in which, therefore, the ribbon travels horizontally. A distributor wheel 50 or`the like rotating substantially in a vertical plane is actuated by the ribbon (not shown) which passes through a ribbon guide 5l in the form of a. sheet metal clip hinged to the casing 52 so as to constitute a closure for the filling opening 53. l'nstead of providing a conveyor Wheel having elongated pockets extending radially` on its front surface, the delivery wheel 54 in this embodiment is constructed as a gear wheel with shrouds or ianges at both ends of the teeth to form pockets. This delivery wheel 54 is relatively fiat toothed apertured wheel slightly dished to facilitate the return fiow of' excess ink to the interior of the casing.

1n the operation of the devices, as illustrated, the casings are moved relatively to the ribbon to cause the distributor projecting through the openings to slightly contact the ribbon. Owing to the feed movement of the ribbon rotation is imparted step by step to the distributor, and this movement causes the respective delivery wheel to carry predetermined minute quantities of ink from the well to the distributor. The latter again transfers these small quantities of fluid to the ribbon whereby they are spread through capillary action over the` desired area of the ribbon.

We claim 1. A device of the character described, comprising an ink container mountable on ribbon printing machines for cooperation with a printing ribbon, an ink conveyor movable Within the container` and a distributor element in the container in driving relation to said conveyor and adapted to be rotated by frictional contact with the printing ribbon while the latter is being in use` the distributor element being dish shaped and provided With apertures to facilitate the return flow of the ink from the distributor element to the container when not in operation.

2. A device of the character described. comprising an ink container mountable on ribbon printing machines for cooperation with a. printing ribbon, a. conveyor element within the container, a distributor element supported by the container and in driving rclation to said conveyor and adapted to be actuated by frictional contact with the ribbon While the latter is in use. the distributor being provided with apertures and formed inclined to prevent collection of ink thereon ivhen not in operation.

3. A device of tbe character described, comprising an ink container mountable on a ribbon print-ing machine for cooperation with a movable printing ribbon` a rotary conveyor within the container providei'l with cireumferentially distributed recesses` and a dished distributor wheel the top surface of which slants from the circumference inwardly, the distributor Wheel being in driving relation with said conveyor and having circumferential projections entering the recesses, and being adapted to be rotated by a frictional contact of some of said projectlons with the moving ribbon.

4. In combination with a ribbon printing machine, an ink container mountable thereon for cooperation with a printing ribbon, a r0- tary conveyor within the container provided with circumferentially distributed e ongated recesses, and a distributor element in driving relation to said conveyor and having parts adapted for successively engaging said recesses and adapted to be rotated by frictional contact with the moving ribbon.

5. In combination with a ribbon printing machine, an ink container mountable thereon for cooperation with a movable printing ribbon, a conveyor wheelv movable within the container provided with circumferentially distributed radially elongated recesses, and a distributor wheel having teeth in driving relation with said recesses and adapted to be rotated by frictional Contact with the moving ribbon.

6. In combination with a ribbon printing machine, an ink container mountable thereon for cooperation with a movable printing ribbon, a rotary conveyor wheel within the container provided with circumferentially distributed radially elongated recesses adjacent the circumferential margin and on one side thereof, and a dished distributor wheel and having circumferential projections enterin said recesses and adapted -to be rotated by frictional contact of some of said projections with the movable ribbon.

7. A device of the character described, comprising an ink container mountable on a ribbon printing machine for cooperation with a printing ribbon, a conveyor clement vwithin the container, a distributor element in driving relation to said conveyor element and adapted to be rotated by frictional contact with the ribbon while the latter is in use, one atleast of said elements being provided with openings shaped to prevent the collection of ink therein.

8. A device of the character described, comprising an ink container mountable on a ribbon printing machine for cooperation with a printing ribbon, a conveyor element within the container, a distributor element supported in the container in driving relation to said conveyor element and adapted to be rotated by frictional Contact with the moving ribbon, and means for yieldingly retaining the said relation between the conveyor and distributor element.

9. A device of the character' described, comprising an ink container mountable on a ribbon printing machine for cooperation with a movable printing ribbon. a rotary conveyor within the container. a distributor in driving relation with said conveyor and rotatable by frictional contact with the moving ribbon, and yielding means engagin the conveyor in opposition tofthe point o contact with the distributor for retaining the said driving relation between the two elements.

10. A device of the character described, comprising an ink container mountable on a ribbon printing machine for cooperation with a movable printing ribbon, a rotary conveyor within the container, a distributor in driving relation to said conveyor and adapted to be rota-ted by frictional contact with the moving ribbon, and a spring centrally secured relatively to said conveyor and acting on the marginal portion of the same.

11. A device of the character described, comprising an ink container mountable for cooperation with a printing ribbon, a rotary conveyor Within the container, a distributor element in driving relation to said container, and adapted to be rotated by frictional contact with the moving ribbon, .the container consisting of a well portion and a cover, and the distributor element being movably mounted on the cover so as to be removable with the same from the Well portion.

l2. A device of the character described, comprising an ink container mountable on a ribbon printing machine for cooperation witha printing ribbon, a conveyor within the same, a distributor element in driving relation to said conveyor and adapted to be actuated by frictional contact with a movable ink ribbon, a support for said container, means for yieldingly forcing the container in direction against the ribbon. and means for varying the force yieldingly acting on said container.

13. In combination with a ribbon printing machine, an ink container mounted on said machine for cooperation with a printing ribbon, means supported by said container for applying fluid from the interior of the container to the surface of ythe ribbon while the latter is in ilse, a bracket on which said container is pivotally supported, means for adjusting the position of the bracket with respect to the printing ribbon and means on the bracket for yieldingly forcing the container in direction towards the inking ribbon.

14. A device of the character described, comprising an ink container mountable on a ribbon printing machine for cooperation with a printing ribbon, means operable by a printing ribbon for transferring ink from the interior of the container in predetermined quantities to the surface of the ribbon While thc later is in use, a bracket on which the container is pivotally mounted, and a spring on the bracketand adapted to urge the container in direction towards the ribbon, the bracket being provided with a plurality of spaced notches adapted for the insertion of pile end of the spring whereby the tension of the spring may be varied. p

15. A device of the character described, comprising an ink container mountable on a ribbon printin machine for cooperation with a printing ri bon, means operable by the printing ribbon for transferring intermittently predetermined quantities of ink from the container to the surface of the ribbon while the latter is in use,a support for the container on which said container is movable to operative and inoperative position, and means integral with said support and engaging said container for retarding the movement from either of said positions to the other.

16. A device of the character described, comprising an ink container mountable on a ribbon printing machine for cooperation with a printing ribbon, meansoperative by the ribbon While in use for transferring successively small quantities of fluid from the interior of the container to the surface of the ribbon, a bracket on which the container is movable to operative or inoperative position respectively relatively to the ribbon, the bracket being provided with a cam edge adapted to engage the container during the movement from either of said positions to the other and to retard said movement.

17. A device of the character described, comprising an ink container mountable on a ribbon printing machine for cooperation with a printing ribbon, means for intermittently transferring fluid from the container to the surface of the ribbon, and a bracket on which said container is pivotally mbunted, the bracket being provided with a cam edge portion having a slot therein and the container on the well portion adapted to prevent the spilling of the fluid from the ycontainer when the device is being tilted.

being provided with a projection adapted for l cooperation with the cam edge when moved about its ivot to vary the width of the slot.

18.'A evice of the character described, comprising an ink container mountable on a ribbon printin machinefor cooperation with a printing rib on,'means for intermittently transferring fluid from the interior of the container to the surface of the ribbon while the latter is in use, and a bale plate for preventing discharge of fluid from the container upon tilting said device.

19. A device of the character described, comprising an ink container mountable for cooperation with a printing ribbon,`means for transferring fluid from the interior of the container to the surface of the ribbon, and a bae in the interior of the container adapted to prevent thedischarge of the fluid from the container when the device is being tilted.

20. A device of the character described', comprising an ink container mountable for cooperation .with a printing ribbon, means in the container for transferring fluid to the surface of the ribbon, the container consisting of a well portion and a cover, and a bale 

